[jools]

I have 2 chickens and recently they have started crowing so loudly in the early hours(5am!) when one of them is in laying. Are they lonely? I have funny neighbours so I am often seen running out in dressing gown across lawn to ask them-the chooks, to put a sock in it  :roll: Can anyone give me some advice as I don't want visit from neighbour and don't want to get rid of chooks either as I love them to pieces.

[eggs on legs]

Bribe the neighbours with free eggs.
 :shock:

[Aunt Sally]

Hi jools,  Welcom to the forums  

I make my chooks stay in bed until a reasonable hour in the morning, about 7 a.m. this time of year, (8 in the winter).  They never shout until after they have stretched their legs and had their breakfast  

[jools]

Hi, thanks for responding. If I'm honest they first started this when I used to lock them in at night, so to try and stop that I left the door open( I have an eglu in a very secure foxproof bespoke(Ha Ha) run) as I thought they were crowing cos they were frustrated at being kept in when the sun was up and there were worms to be had. I don't want to cover the eglu so they can't see its light as I don't want to block the ventilation, but I will try closing them up tonight. Other methods I have tried is tying some brocolli up so its there when they get up so they are distracted, but I'm worried that may start attracting other beasties and as soon as they have pecked it from its string they're not bothered any more. They will stop if you go out and talk to them but its getting alla bit tiring!

[Aunt Sally]

I'm surprised they are shouting when in their eglu as my chooks stretch their necks up to shout and the eglu does not give much head room.  You might have to try ignoring them for a few days and leave them shut in until later.  (warn the neighbours and don't choose a week end)

I find chooks are very good at twisting you around their little clawed toes  :roll:

[jools]

Hi Aunt Sally, well I closed them up last night and only got woken at 6.30-marginally better I suppose and there was an egg waiting so maybe its a declaration!!!. Its like the children-controlled crying!, who'd have thought that something with such a wee brain could be so clever! I do love them though.

[Aunt Sally]

who'd have thought that something with such a wee brain could be so clever!

I only have one chook at present and she is very inteligent ( small brain indeed  :roll: )

Today I washed my douvett and pillows and hung then on the line to dry, the sunshine was VERY hot and the sky clear.  I'd left the kitchen door open and at about 6 o'clock there was a  "boc-boc-boc-boc" from the kitchen.  Hattie was standing in the kitchen telling me it had just started to rain - Clever girl  

[jools]

Wow, she sounds more capable and thoughtful than my husband who would never dream of being so helpful! does she do ironing?

[Fat Hen]

Wow, she sounds more capable and thoughtful than my husband who would never dream of being so helpful! does she do ironing?

Does your husband :?:  

[Aunt Sally]

Wow, she sounds more capable and thoughtful than my husband who would never dream of being so helpful! does she do ironing?

Does your husband :?:  

My husband does  :!:

[calli]

Only his suit trousers - for some reason I can't do them well enough

I really should rush through the shirts a bit - the odd crease left

[jools]

yes my hubby does ironing- way better than me, but there has to be football on the tv. so am bit stuffed, mind you the crickets on....
on subject of chooks. I am so knackered with these early starts, even hanging the brocolli out didn't work this morning and staggering across the garden with a hangover at 6am is really no fun :cry: